Buoyancy affects stranding rate and dispersal distance of floating litter entering the sea from river mouths

Maclean, Kyle; Weideman, Eleanor A.; Perold, Vonica; Ryan, Peter G.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113028

Cited by 20 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In the Loire estuary, floating debris appeared to strand more quickly than half-submerged ones. This behavior was already noticed (Ryan and Perold, 2021;Tramoy et al, 2020b) and one assumption is a greater effect of the wind on debris transferred at the water surface (Browne et al, 2010;Maclean et al, 2021;van Emmerik and Schwarz, 2020). This is supported in the Loire estuary by higher maximum speeds of floating bottles than half-submerged ones (Table S4b ).…”

Section: Specific Transfer and Accumulation Processes According To Bu...supporting

confidence: 65%

“…wind gusts). Floating debris will consequently accumulate faster and closer to their entry point in the estuary (Maclean et al, 2021), as supported by their low net distances (Table S4b). In contrast, half-submerged bottles appeared more sensitive to the water current than floating bottles and can be longer transported in the water column.…”

Section: Specific Transfer and Accumulation Processes According To Bu...mentioning

confidence: 88%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Macroplastic transfer dynamics in the Loire estuary: Similarities and specificities with macrotidal estuaries

Ledieu

Tramoy

Mabilais

et al. 2022

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Section: Specific Transfer and Accumulation Processes According To Bu...supporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Specific Transfer and Accumulation Processes According To Bu...mentioning

confidence: 88%

Macroplastic transfer dynamics in the Loire estuary: Similarities and specificities with macrotidal estuaries

Ledieu

Tramoy

Mabilais

et al. 2022

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…There are however two exceptions: (1) experiments with intentional release of trackers, and (2) items released from specific spilling incidents. Some studies therefore utilize GPS-trackers, plastic items equipped with acoustic telemetry tags, or items marked to be recognizable (Tramoy et al, 2020;Teunkens, 2021;Newbould et al, 2021;Lotcheris et al, 2023;Maclean et al, 2021). These studies can provide valuable insights in plastic transport.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flood induced buttertub spill reveals riverine plastic transport dynamics

Hauk,

Ploeg,

Teuling

et al. 2024

Preprint

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During the July 2021 European floods approximately 8 million empty dairy packaging (buttertubs) were flushed from a dairy processing facility in Belgium into the Vesdre river. Some were transported further downstream, into the Ourthe river and eventually the Meuse river. There are many unknowns when it comes to plastic transport in rivers, especially in response to floods. We therefore used this incident as an unique opportunity to study these buttertubs as a tracer for plastic transport dynamics in a riverine environment in response to an extreme flood event. Normally, it is unknown when and where individual plastic items found on riverbanks entered the environment. In this case, however, the ID stamps on the buttercups allowed for them to be traced back to the flooding of the factory. We studied the transport and deposition of these buttertubs in the Dutch Meuse over two years following the flood. We also collected buttertubs at different points in time to investigate their fragmentation and mass loss. Within three weeks of the flood, the buttertubs were transported up to 328 km from the spilling location. Overall, the majority (78%) of buttertubs we found within the first three weeks were deposited within less than 100 km of the point of emission. Over the following two years, the mean transport distance of the found buttertubs moved downstream from 100 km in July/August 2021, to 153 km in July 2023. The buttertubs average transport velocity decreased from 11.7 km/d within the first three weeks, to 0.2 km/d by July 2023. Based on the 89 buttertubs we collected and analyzed in detail over the two years, we did not find a significant mass loss. Of all 89 buttertubs found, 47 showed cracks and only 12 appeared to have pieces missing. This study shows that even during extreme flood events, the majority of spilled plastic litter is retained within a limited distance after being emitted into the river. The findings of this study can be utilized to improve plastic transport modelling, and overall better understand plastic transport in the freshwater environment.

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“…Plastics are usually the most abundant items, and because of their low densities and extended lifespan, they are able to travel long distances from their source areas [12]. In the marine environment, the distribution and fate of floating litter is conditioned by marine and atmospheric forces such as currents, turbulence processes, and wind, and by litter buoyancy properties [12][13][14]. In the absence of vertical mixing processes in the sea, the buoyancy of litter items and, therefore, their behavior, transport, and fate, is essentially linked to the relationship between their average densities and seawater density, approximately 1.03 g cm −3 , and to the volumes and shapes of litter items that determine the amount of biofouling able to develop on their surface [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A First Attempt to Describe the Real-Time Behavior and Fate of Marine Litter Items in the Nearshore and Foreshore under Low Energetic Marine Conditions

Anfuso,

Álvarez,

Dilauro

et al. 2024

Water

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A field assessment was carried out in May 2023 in a natural protected area in South Italy to investigate the real-time behavior and fate of common marine litter items at different depths at the nearshore and foreshore under low energetic conditions. The field data were also compared with theoretical values calculated using theoretical formulations considering the Stokes drift current, wind-induced current, and current at breaking position. The wind approached from N to W, with values ranging from 2.4 to 3.8 m/s. The propagated significant wave height ranged from 14 to 21 cm, with an associated period of 3 s. Items with a positive buoyancy recorded different velocities. Very protruding (above water surface) items were greatly affected by windage and recorded velocities from 0.23 to 0.33 m/s; higher than the theoretical values that do not take into account windage. Theoretical values correctly predicted the velocity of other less-protruding items but slightly underestimated the velocity of neutral buoyancy items, evidencing in both cases the low relevance of the Stokes drift current. Items with a negative buoyancy moved (or not) in the bottom with different velocities. Different behaviors were observed at the breaking point, where items surfed (or not) spilling breaking waves, and at the foreshore, where items moved along the plunge step or in a “zig–zag” movement due to a swash–backwash process.

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Buoyancy affects stranding rate and dispersal distance of floating litter entering the sea from river mouths

Cited by 20 publications

References 40 publications

Macroplastic transfer dynamics in the Loire estuary: Similarities and specificities with macrotidal estuaries

Macroplastic transfer dynamics in the Loire estuary: Similarities and specificities with macrotidal estuaries

Flood induced buttertub spill reveals riverine plastic transport dynamics

A First Attempt to Describe the Real-Time Behavior and Fate of Marine Litter Items in the Nearshore and Foreshore under Low Energetic Marine Conditions

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